The Chappaqaua Children’s Book Festival is less that a week away, and excitement is building! The CCBF, with over 8,000 visitors each year, has become one of one of the largest children’s book festivals in the country.
The 11th annual event, held September 28, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Chappaqua train station.
The festival will feature 160 authors including Laura Numeroff (the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” series), 2024 Caldecott Medal winner Vashti Harrison, festival favorite Victoria Kann (“Pinkalicious”), Dan Gutman (the “My Weird School” series) and so many more!
The festival gives kids and families a chance to meet and interact with the authors of their favorite books and discover more. The fun-filled day includes food trucks, activities and more for all to enjoy.
I asked some familiar faces around town who they are looking forward to meeting this year!
Who are you excited about seeing at the CCBF this year?
David Forsberg, 4th Grade teacher, Roaring Brook School:
This event has grown into a truly special day. Upon arriving, you sense excitement from children and parents as they walk around with new books that they can’t wait to take home and enjoy. The authors from the festival are world renowned and may be familiar to Chappaqua students. There are always new exciting authors that have something new to offer to the festival.
Last year, our 4th grade students were able to meet Sayantani DasGupta at an author’s day visit at RBS. Students and teachers were engaged listening to the incredible experiences and writing methods she shared. Dr. DasGupta grew up in Ohio and shared about how she was always addicted to reading and loved learning about how authors came up with their own ideas. She became a pediatrician and children’s author. Our 4th grade students were immediately captured by her energy, disposition and her impressive accomplishments.
I hope that families take advantage and attend the festival with their children this year! You can’t go wrong.
Robbin Freidman, Chappaqua Library:
I’m looking forward to meeting Katie Yamasaki, the author and illustrator of several warm and inspiring picture books. In addition to creating books, Yamasaki is a muralist and her picture book illustrations bring the same kind of vibrancy and scope as her murals. For my first book club session of the school year (the book club is for middle school students with an adult, usually a parent), we read “Turtles of the Midnight Moon” by María José Fitzgerald, so I know all those readers and I are hoping to say hello to her.
Mercy Garland, Chappaqua Library:
I am looking forward to meeting Rajani LaRocca because I love her novels-in-verse (“Red, White and Whole” AND “Mirror to Mirror”). I also look forward to meeting Nicole Melleby because she creates really deep characters dealing with complex problems and issues. For illustrators- I would love to meet E.B Lewis because his work is always so beautiful.
Julie Ann Polasko, Chappaqua Library:
As a Children’s Librarian, I am continually learning from our new books. I am so excited to meet M.O. Yuksel and tell her how grateful I am for her books, because they represent those of the Muslim faith, and educate others. Examples are her picture book In My Mosque, and the biography One Wish, about Fatima al-Fihri, the founder of the oldest continuously operating University in the world!
I’m also looking forward to seeing Carrie Finison. Her “Dozens of Doughnuts” is one of my go-to suggestions for a funny picture book. It features a bear preparing for hibernation by making doughnuts (as one does)–but has she been too generous when all of her woodland friends come knocking?
Teresa Bueti, Chappaqua Library:
I’m hoping to meet author & illustrator Dan Santat. I’ve loved so many of his own books, from the Caldecott-Award-winning “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend”, to the sensitive “After the Fall”, to his middle school graphic memoir “A First Time for Everything”, and then there are the ones he’s illustrated for other authors, like Minh Lé’s “Drawn Together”. I enjoy his energy and humor–his work is incredibly varied, but so distinctive.
Chris Eidem, Chappaqua School Librarian:
I am looking forward to meeting Kyle Lukoff (“Too Bright to See”) and am excited to talk with him about his Newbery Honor and Stonewall awards and thank him for writing books that support our LGBTQ adolescents. I also look forward to seeing Phil Bildner (“A High Five for Glenn Burke”) whom I have met on several occasions and who is a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community, and also is a baseball fan!
Hudson Talbot is a favorite author friend who I have hosted at Roaring Brook for Author Day several years ago. We have a connection with Hudson NY, my hometown, and where I attended an exhibit of his illustrations. He lives across the river near Catskill and I visit with him when I am home at my mom’s house.
One of the greatest experiences for a librarian and an author is not only connecting a student with the right book at the right time, but witnessing it changing their life. Hudson wrote his autobiographical book “A Walk in the Words” describing and illustrating his struggle with dyslexia as a child. I was so pleased to give this book to our reading teacher specifically for a student who was struggling with reading. This book allowed the student to recognize his disability and know that he was not alone, and now has been able to grow as a reader with the support and understanding he needed. It was life changing. That to me is the ultimate “Why” for what we strive to do every day.
We are so very lucky to have this event in our own backyard, bringing the best and largest selection of authors and illustrators for all ages. I look forward to it each year and am so pleased to have supported this project from its earliest conception to now being in its 11th year.
Cayne Letizia, English teacher, Horace Greeley High School:
As a high school English teacher at Horace Greeley High School, I’m particularly excited about the inclusion of a few young adult authors at this year’s Chappaqua Book Festival, like Dhonielle Clayton and Erik J. Brown. These writers offer stories that resonate with the age group I teach. Engaging with authors who understand the challenges and experiences of adolescents is a great way to inspire my students. I’m also looking forward to seeing my students volunteer and give back to the community–it’s an amazing opportunity for them to contribute and be part of something much larger than themselves.
I’m looking forward to seeing Torrey Maldonado at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival because my son and I both enjoyed reading his books “Tight” and “What Lane?” Meeting Torrey will be a great experience for both of us!
For more information, a list of authors, or to volunteer, visit http://www.ccbfestival.org/ or follow the CCBF at www.facebook.com/chappaquachildrensbookfestival.
